Events Calendar
In This Section
'Witness for the Prosecution' keeps audiences guessing
Actor Gary Coleman pleads guilty in Utah court
Rich Heldenfels: 'Past Life' is unbelievable
Michael Jackson doctor charged with manslaughter
Gary Coleman scheduled for Utah court appearance
'Christmas Story' actor finds challenges behind camera
Actor in Oscar nominee for foreign films is detained
Most Read Stories
Another winter punch heading toward Ohio
Man robbed at Tallmadge Avenue eatery
Complaints against officer keep coming
Police say couple had 50 stolen hubcaps
Police: Ohio girl dies after fall into snow bank
Police: Man tries to buy crack with credit card
Woman rescued after falling through rotting floor in house
Four teens restrain man, take items from his Akron home
Blogs:
First Bell - On Education:
No City of Akron basketball tonight
Pets:
Pet telethon re-airs
The Heldenfiles:
NBC Releases Olympics Announcer List
Akron Zips:
Zips favored on road against MAC West leader
Tribe Matters:
Blogmail response on Hafner
Cleveland Browns:
Stallworth's contract terminated
Balanced Ledger:
QB in Browns future: another mock draft
Kent State Sports:
KSU Notes – February 9
Cleveland Cavaliers:
NBA Power Rankings from Around the Internet
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes grab 18 players on signing day
Varsity Letters:
Five local gridders to play in Big33
All Da King's Men:
Palin At The Tea Party Convention
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Republican Pre-Conditions
Akron Law Café:
Law, Love and Chocolate
Car Chase:
Collector Car Hobby Loses One of the Best—Jim Roll
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Decisions Decisions: Credit Cards or Your Mortgage?
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Loucile is looking for a Lake Erie getaway in June for three kids, ages 1, 3, and 5.
Sound Check:
Talk of the Town – Top entertainment picks for the weekend
HRLite House:
OFCCP Report
Akron Gamer:
Makers of 'Castle Crashers' unveil 'BattleBlock Theater'
See Jane Style:
Do IT this week: Layering
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal music writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 26, 2009
15-60-75, aka the Numbers Band, is a local music institution.
The band, which will celebrate 40 years in 2010, has outlasted countless bars and night clubs (many in which they have performed), musical trends and fads and are still outworking many bands half their age.
Friday night at the Kent Stage, the venerable band led by mainstays singer/songwriter/guitarist Bob Kidney, his brother Jack on harmonica and other instruments and saxophonist Terry Hynde along with the rhythm section of bassist Bill Watson and drummer Frank Casamento, will celebrate the release of its new CD The Inward City.
The CD is the band's first collection of new material since 1992's Hotwire and though primary songwriter Bob Kidney and his brother have written plenty of songs since the '90s, it took some financial and motivational assistance from old friend and longtime band champion David Thomas (leader of Cleveland's indie rock legends Pere Ubu) and John Thompson (who also did the CD artwork) to get the band back in the studio.
''They decided it was time for the Numbers Band to do another record and they were shooting for something definitive,'' Bob Kidney said. ''And I think in terms of where we are right now they accomplished that.''
The album, recorded at Suma Studios in Painesville and released on Thomas' Hearthan label, took about two years to complete. Producer Thomas worked on the tracks during his rare moments of downtime.
The disc is made up mostly of newer songs, but some of the disc's nine tracks are older tunes that should be familiar to the band's longtime fans, including a new recording of a slightly rearranged Nobody's John and Thunderhead both requested by Thomas.
Inward City finds the band, known for its dark blues and jazz-influenced sound, in fine form with some catchy tunes such as Jack Kidney's album opener Battery B and Bob's midtempo Thunderhead, either of which would settle nicely between the latest John Mayer and Norah Jones singles on 91.3 (WAPS-FM) The Summit. The tense, syncopated Tellsusourvision finds Kidney in his melodic monologist role, railing against the power of television (''turn the sucker off!'') and ''uptight people in casual clothes.''
The band also offers a slow-crawling take on Arthur ''Big Boy'' Crudup's Yonders Wall.
While many 20-somethings who start bands eventually put down their instruments and become ''uptight people in casual clothes'' the Kidney Brothers and Hynde have been in 15-60-75 for most of their adult lives, which Kidney says was the dream.
''That was my hope from the very beginning — to spend my life playing music, that's what I wanted to do and I was hoping that I would be able to sustain an audience,'' he said.
''I admire the longevity of so many of the country artists who spend their whole lives playing for people and making music and writing. I also admire that in jazz performers who for the most part spend their whole lives playing music.''
Kidney said the band plans to play much of the new album plus some old favorites during the CD release party, and it already has a few new songs to add to the set list. The band also is offering free admission to the party with purchase of The Inward City CD.
Kidney said he hopes it won't take another 18 years for the band to record. And he said, next year the band will celebrate its four decades with a lot of free shows aimed at thanking its loyal fans.
''It's kind of overwhelming,'' he said. ''It's a long time to do something like this locally.
''I'm surprised and kind of honored that people still come see us play,'' he continued. ''We want to thank people for 40 years worth of work.''
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.
15-60-75, aka the Numbers Band, is a local music institution.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Canton, OH
Posted 08:41 PM, 11/28/2009
. ..sweet. . .
